These small group Bible studies of Acts 11 contain commentary, discussion questions, and practical application. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Acts 11 Bible Study Guide – The Church Keeps Growing
Outline
I. Peter reports to the church (1-18)
II. The church grows in Antioch (19-30)
I. Peter reports to the church (1-18)
Discussion Questions
• How did people respond to the news of the Gentiles receiving the gospel?
• What is the “circumcision party?” What would they have believed?
• Why were they upset with Peter?
• How could their communication with him have been improved?
• If you don’t understand why someone did something, what should you do?
• How did Peter respond to them? What can you learn from him?
• What observations do you have of Peter’s recounting of the events?
• What was Peter’s conclusion about what had happened?
• Why is the attitude “Who was I that I could stand in God’s way important?”
• What people in the Bible did try to stand in God’s way? What was the result?
• How did the people respond to Peter’s account?
Cross-References
Galatians 2:3-5 – But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.
Philippians 3:2-3 – Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.
Proverbs 20:5 – The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
James 1:19 – Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. The circumcision party believed in faith plus works –
Acts 11:2-3 – So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
The circumcision party was a group of people who believed circumcision was a prerequisite for salvation. Essentially, they taught that Christians had to follow the Old Testament law. For them, salvation was faith plus works.
A number of years later, they still were an influential sect and pushed this false teaching.
Acts 15:1 – But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2. Seek to understand, not debate –
These people heard what had happened and their immediate reaction was to criticize Peter.
Reflect – What should they have done?
They didn’t ask questions. They didn’t wait to hear the full story. They rushed to judgment. Their judgment was harsh and incorrect while they were too quick to share their opinion. Their criticisms stemmed from their own prejudices and traditions.
These people were not interested in learning. Neither did they approach the question with an open mind such as, “I have my doubts, but I will hear Peter out first.”
The judgmental and overly critical attitude they displayed reminds us of several important lessons.
Lesson 1 – Hear the full story.
Proverbs 18:13 – If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
It is folly to offer your opinion, counsel, or verdict before you fully understand the situation. We are to be quick to listen and slow to speak.
We have all been on the receiving end of people who rush to give us their opinions before hearing all of the facts. It isn’t helpful.
Application – Before offering counsel, slow down. Ask more questions. Don’t be hasty. It is better to give good counsel than quick counsel.
Lesson 2 – Ask good questions
Rather than making presumptions and being argumentative, start off with a question. The talk with Peter would have been much more courteous and helpful if they started with, “For what reasons did you go and eat with the Gentiles?”
Questions are a powerful tool.
Civil war nearly broke out in Israel because one group make assumptions instead of asking questions (Joshua 22).
Lesson 3 – Be willing to challenge your own traditions
The circumcision party was generally unwilling to consider the fact that they might be wrong. They were close-minded. If evidence came that would challenge their beliefs, they dismissed the evidence instead of changing their beliefs.
Throughout the New Testament period, this party remained and insisted on circumcision. They did this in spite of clear revelation from God that it wasn’t necessary for salvation. Their traditions were more highly valued than God’s Word. That is a sign of pride.
Reflect – Are you willing to change your mind? In discussions with family and friends, are you open-minded to the fact you might be wrong? Or are you the one who is always right?
3. Peter explained everything –
Though the circumcision party harshly accused Peter, he responded calmly. Peter did not engage in personal attacks. Neither did he appeal to his own credibility as an apostle. He simply explained what had happened.
Proverbs 15:1 – A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
From Peter’s response, we are reminded of the importance of responding to others with grace, even when we are unfairly criticized.
Reflect – Do you practice giving a gentle answer to criticism or are you easily sucked into arguments? How can you improve?
Peter gave a full report of the entire event from beginning to end. You can read our commentary on Acts 10 for thoughts on the events themselves.
4. Peter’s response to what he had seen and heard –
Acts 11:16-17 – And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
Peter himself had to consider all that had happened and reflect on what it meant. As he did, he remembered Jesus’ promise that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5).
Therefore the decision that Peter came to was not based on his own feelings or interpretation of the events. It was based on Jesus’ rock-solid teachings.
He concluded that God gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles. There was no other explanation for what had happened. If this was of God, then there was no choice but to go along with it.
It is a dangerous thing to stand in God’s way and Peter wisely decided he wasn’t going to be that guy.
“Who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
Sadly, many have attempted to stand in God’s way.
• Pharaoh – He refused to obey God and let the people go.
• Dathan and Abiram – They refused to submit to God’s appointed leader, Moses. They wanted to be the leader. God opened the ground up and it swallowed them (Numbers 16).
• Nadab and Abihu – They refused to obey God’s instructions and were swallowed by fire (Leviticus 10).
• Saul – He refused to accept the new king God anointed.
• The Sanhedrin – They crucified Jesus and continued to oppose the disciples sharing the gospel.
Job 42:2 – I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Psalms 2:2-4 – The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
Application – It is futile to stand against God or to resist His will. Prayerfully seek to understand where God is working and then jump on board. We should not seek to get God to join our side (Joshua 5:13-15). Rather, join His side. It is a frightening thing to find yourself opposed to God.
5. They glorified God –
Acts 11:18 – When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
Many who heard Peter’s testimony responded with praise for God. It was a monumental change of thinking for Jews, who considered that they were chosen by God and could be saved and Gentiles were not.
II. The church grows in Antioch (19-30)
Discussion Questions
• How far were Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch from Jerusalem?
• Why did they not share the good news with non-Jews (19)?
• Who are the Hellenists?
• Why did so many people believe?
• When has the “hand of the Lord” been with you?
• What can you learn from Barnabas’ example?
• Why did Barnabas need to “look for Saul?”
• How long may have elapsed since Saul’s conversion?
• How long did they minister in Antioch?
• What does the title “Christian” mean? Does it still have the same meaning as it did then?
• Should we use the title Christian or something else for ourselves today? Why?
• What other term is used for the first time in the New Testament (30)?
Cross-References
Philippians 1:12-13 – I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Galatians 1:21 – Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
1 Peter 4:16 – Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Scattering of the saints –
Acts 11:19-20 – Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
Believers were being persecuted. That caused them to scatter as they fled their persecutors.
They had traveled a long way. Phoenicia was just over one hundred miles away. Cyprus was over two hundred. Antioch was over three hundred. Phoenicia was on the Mediterranean and could be traveled to by foot in under a week. Cyprus was an island and had to be reached by boat while travel time to Antioch by foot was almost three weeks.
The early saints were refugees fleeing persecution. They had a difficult and dangerous life. Yet God used the persecution inflicted on them by His enemies to spread the gospel. The Jewish leaders were opposed to the spread of Christianity and tried their best to stop it.
Sadly, they did not come to the same conclusion as Peter, “Who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” Instead, they did attempt to stand in God’s way. But it didn’t work. What they intended to frighten believers and discourage them from sharing resulted in the gospel spreading more quickly as the Christian refugees took the gospel into new regions as they traveled.
Throughout history, persecution has often resulted in explosive church growth.
God’s providence is active in this now as it was in Joseph’s day. His conclusion still rings true.
Genesis 50:20 – As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.
Authoritarian regimes mean it for evil, but God uses it for good. It happened in ancient times in Rome. In more recent times, the same phenomena have occurred in Iran, China, and Nepal. In all of these places, governments sought to put a lid on Christianity. But the more they pressed, the more the church grew.
Reflect – What apparently “bad” thing in your life have you realized God meant for good?
2. The gospel goes to the Hellenists –
The believers being scattered took the gospel only to the Jews. Their mindset hadn’t yet shifted to encompass God’s vision for all nations. Besides their own tradition and prejudices, language and cultural barriers were obstacles to intermingling and sharing with other ethnic groups.
But some believers shared with Hellenists. These were Greek-speaking Jews. Culturally, they were one step removed from native Hebrews. As such, they were a bridge from the Jews to the Gentiles. The Hellenists understood the Old Testament, the law, and Jewish customs. Biblical concepts such as monotheism were easier for them to grasp. After they came to Christ, they could then take the next step to reach the Gentiles.
A great number believed and returned to the Lord.
3. Barnabas comes to Antioch –
Acts 11:22 – The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
We see several good character qualities in Barnabas.
He was observant. He clearly saw the grace of God. He noted what God was doing and he jumped on board.
He exhorted them all to remain faithful. Barnabas is an encourager. Wherever he goes, you can see him encouraging people. He didn’t come in with a critical mindset to jump on their weaknesses. Instead, he saw their strengths and encouraged them to keep it up. Oftentimes, words of encouragement are more powerful than criticisms.
Reflect – Which comes more naturally to you, encouraging or criticizing? Which helps others grow more?
He was full of the Holy Spirit. Barnabas’ relationship with God is what empowered him to be so effective in building God’s kingdom. If you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit, how can you go about it?
4. Barnabas was a good team player –
This event is several years after Saul’s conversion. Saul had spent time in Arabia (Galatians 1:11-20) and Damascus. Barnabas found him in Tarsus. That was a journey of about one hundred fifty miles (240 KM) each way. It would have taken a week on foot or donkey.
Although the “fetching of Saul” is not one of the most taught events in Acts, it is a major one. It was after Barnabas took the initiative to get Saul (he had already welcomed Saul into the church before), that Saul’s mission really started to take off.
Barnabas was a good team player. He saw the huge task that needed to be completed. So he recruited Saul to help him. Barnabas wasn’t interested in hogging the spotlight. He wasn’t afraid of or jealous of other people’s giftings because it was not about him. Instead, he saw their gifts and happily partnered with them while graciously nudging them to use those gifts for God’s glory.
I once heard a story of a pastor who went on a trip. He asked a junior pastor in his church to preach while he was gone. The junior pastor’s sermon got a very strong positive response. Some asked the senior pastor to let him speak more often. But the senior pastor was jealous. He complained, “Why don’t you say anything positive when I preach?” Instead of rejoicing at how God used his junior and nurtured that gift, he refused to let him speak again because he didn’t want to share the spotlight. Barnabas never would have done this. When God’s work is being done, we should rejoice no matter who is doing it.
God did not design a “lone ranger” model of Christianity where every believer is doing his own thing. Instead, the church is compared to a body where every part, though not equal in prominence or doing the same thing, has a specific and vital function (1 Corinthians 12). We should seek opportunities to partner with and hear from other believers.
Reflect – What are some of the benefits of ministering together with other believers instead of on our own? Why did Jesus originally send out the disciples two by two?
Application – Think about others on your team (family, ministry, church, work, etc.) How can you help them nurture their gifts and abilities? How can you affirm them and help them grow?
5. In Antioch, disciples were first called Christians –
Acts 11:26 – And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
The title “Christian” was a combination of Greek for “Christ” (meaning ‘anointed one’) and the Latin suffix “ianos,” which denotes loyalty or affiliation. Thus, a “Christianos” was identified with Christ. The term essentially means, “Follower of Christ.”
Many scholars believe that it was coined by opponents of the gospel who used it as an insult.
I once had a person insult me by saying, “Oh look, the Bible guy is coming again.” In his mind, “Bible guy” was an insult. But I liked it.
Thus, the term “Christian” likely began as an insult, but believers happily accepted the title. In the early New Testament, only people who were willing to suffer for Christ would take this title. They were given this title because they were different. God has called us to be different even if doing so means we will be mocked as they were.
Reflect – Does the term “Christian” still have the same meaning as it did then? Is it the best title for us to go by?
In cultures where there are very few Christians, most people who identify as “Christian” are in fact, real disciples. But in many Western countries, cultural Christianity is widespread. Many people who identify as Christians, are not born-again and do not actively follow Christ. I met a man from Germany who told me he was Christian, but he did not believe in the Bible or the resurrection of Jesus. There are aspects of Christianity that he liked, such as Sunday School for children.
In the US, about 60% of people identify as Christian while only 30% identify as born again. In the UK, around 45% identify as Christian and only 2-6% identify as born again. In Germany, about 50% identify as Christian, but less than 2% would say they are born again.
From these numbers, it is clear the title “Christian” has lost its meaning. It no longer means “follower of Christ,” but instead means something like, “Someone who celebrates Christmas, believes in being generally nice, and vaguely supports Jesus without knowing what He said.”
The title has therefore lost its usefulness for those who seek to follow Christ personally. It also comes with a lot of baggage.
Personally, I prefer to say that I am a follower of Jesus than that I am a Christian.
6. The prophet Agabus –
Acts 11:27-30 – Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Agabus prophesied a great famine. The disciples in Antioch took this seriously. They therefore generously raised help to send to more needy brethren back in Judea. Residents of Judea would generally be less well off than those in Antioch.
Reflect – When you hear of a need, are you empathic? Are you moved to help those less fortunate than you are?
7. Elders –
Acts 11:30 is the first reference to elders in the New Testament. Later, Paul would prescribe elders as being God’s blueprint for leaders in the church. The apostles were neither omnipresent nor would they live forever. It was necessary to have local church leaders and to start transitioning from the central leadership of the apostles.
Turning the World Upside Down - Acts Study
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